31 Jan 2011

PNG police say no arrests yet after violence in Port Moresby

4:46 pm on 31 January 2011

Police in Papua New Guinea are appealing to the leaders of clans involved in tribal fighting in Port Moresby to come forward to police.

The fight in the capital started on Thursday at a popular market, after the theft of a mobile phone, and continued for four days.

National newspapers report at least five men are dead as a result of attacks with bush knives with scores of others hospitalised with wounds.

A spokesman for police, Dominc Kakas, says no arrests have been made and their investigation is continuing.

"' We are appealing for calm. Appealing for members of the group who were fighting [in the] clans to restrain themselves while we investigate and bring to justice whoever is involved there. We have to also assess the situation as to how many were injured, how many go killed, and so on."

The spokesperson for PNG Police, Dominic Kakas